Tripod-head mechanism.



A. S. HOWELL.

TRIPOD HEAD MECHANISM.-

APPUCATION FILED NbV'. 27; 1916.

1 ,276, 220'. Patented Aug. 20, 19 18 J/wemior (2117975 5, Tfiiness: jj'weu/ MWQM JZZW A. S. HOWELL.

TRIPOD HEAD MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 27. 1916.

1,276,220. Q Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

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APPLI CATIQN FILED NOV-27-19l6. I

Patented Aug. 20, 191&

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ALBERT s. HOWELL, or cHicAeo, rumors, ASSIGNOZR To BELL & HOWELL COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,'A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRIPOD-HEAD MECHANISM;

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patentefl Aug. 20, 1918.

Application filed November 27, 1916. Serial No. 133,769;

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT S. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tripod-Head Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tripods for instruments of precision, such as transits for surfveying, and especially apparatus relating to the art of motion pictures, and the like, and

more particularly to the head of the tripod which is adapted to carrythe instrument.

One of the objects of my invention is the:

-of beingtilted to any angle of inclination,-

and also capable. of rotation when so inclined, and vice versa, both adjustments be" ing. attained by the actuation of a single crank. Still further objects of my'invention are the provision of means whereby the actuating handle or crank, when released by the operator, will return to a neutral position so that the-apparatus may not be acci-i dentally moved out of its'adjus'ted position,

and also to provide a suitable relea'semechanism that is-adapted to permit the release of the mechanical adjusting means contained within the head so that a coarse-adjustment may be quickly made with the hands alone.

I prefer to accomplish the divers objects of my invention by the means and in the manner hereinafter more fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of. this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a top' plan of my improvedtripod head, the instrument to be supported thereon and the legs therefor being removed for the purpose of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation of one side of my invention. k

Fig. 3 1s a vertical central section taken on line 33 of Figfl. and drawn to a,

slightly enlar ed scale;

, Fig. 4 is a ragmental view looking at the mechanism from the top and having the cover plate and other parts removed for the purpose of clearness. f i Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the actuating gears for rotating the tripod head, the same beingtaken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of the upper end of the actuating crank.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to -Figs. 2 and 3, it will'be observed that my improved tripod-head comprises a box-like structureor housing for inclosing the actuating mechanism." This housing consists of a hollow cylindrical wall-10- that is closed at its top and bottom by means of a top plate orcap '11, and a bottom plate 12, of substantially circular contour and adapted to fit said cylindrical wall snugly to exclude dust and foreign matter and be capable of rotation withreference to saidcylindrical wall. Extending above, and preferably integral-with the plate ,11,'isa pair of oppositely disposed bearing lugs 13-13 that are preferably provided adjacent their upper ends with transverse screw-threaded bores,

' into which are tappedhorizontally disposed bolts 14-44. These bolts extend beyond the inner faces of theselugs and engage the depending trunnions l515 of a horizontallydisposed plate 16. This plate 16 is suitably formed to receive the base of a surveyors transit, a telescope, a motionpicture. camera or any other similar instrument, the ad ust- *ment and sighting of which it is desirable to accomplish with ni'cety. Interposed between the top plate 11 and the upper edge of the cylindrical wall 10 is a suitable annular bushing 17, ofv L-shape in cross-section, upon -.which'the top plate is'adapted to rest and rotate, and a graduated ring or. protractor 18, having 360 graduations upon the same, is mounted immediately below said bushing and retained in position by the outerextended edge of the latter. Suitable brackets lllll the bottom plate and has a suitable having stub extensions X, Y and Z, are provided on the exterior of the cylindrical wall 10 upon opposite sides of which stubs pivot the respective tripod legs (not shown) and a spirit-level 53 is provided upon the top of plate 11;

Journaled centrally in both the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 12 is the operating or main shaft, 19 of they actuating mechanism, the lower end whereof extends below crank or handle 20 secured thereto for rotating the same. The upper end of the shaft 19 is slightly reduced in diameter to form an extension 21, that extends up into a suitable, dust-proof cap 22, where it is provided with an enlarged head 23. A bushing or sleeve 24 surrounds theshaft 19 adjacent the reduced portion 21 and this bushing has its bore increased at 25- and extends through the top plate 11 (as shown in Fig. 6), so as to provide a shoulder upon which a washer 26 is disposed. A coiled expansion spring 27 surrounds the extension 21 of the shaft between its head 23 and the washer 26, so that when the shaft 19 .is moved longitudinally or axially downward, the spring will be depressed by the head 23, or when said shaft is raised, the shoulder formed by the extension will compress the spring between the washer and the head, so that when moved in either direction and then releasechthe shaft will return to its neutral or normal position, the object of which will be better understood after the description of the mechanism has been had. I

Mounted in suitable bearings in plates 11 and 12 and with its axis vertically disposed and parallel with shaft 19, is a suitable shaft 28, and adjacent and parallel thereto is another shaft 29. These two shafts 28 and 29 are adapted to carry a plurality of gears in train with each other so that a considerable reduction in speed is efi'ected when the first of the train of gears is actuated by a pinion 30 fixedly mounted upon the actuating shaft 19. The lowermost gear T (Fig. 5) on shaft 28 is in mesh with a suitable annular, internal rack J that is secured to the bottom plate 12 in any suitable manner, so that the same rotates therewith and is partially inclosed within a suitable'lL-se ction annular housing 31 upon the bottom plate 12, the rear or outer portion of the rack J fitting snugly against the in terior surface or wall of the casing 10. Immediately above gear I is the initial gear A of the train, which is preferably keyed to the downwardly extended hub of the gear B immediately above the same on said shaft 28. Gear E is mounted-upon the shaft 28 and rests upon the hub of gear B and its hub is extended upwardly around the shaft 28 and is provided with a smaller gear F adjacent the top of the shaft. These gears Lavaaao are all loose and free to rotate upon the head, the crank 20 is pulled downward until pinion 30 thereon meshes with gear A. of the train. In this position the handle 20 is rotated and gear A actuates gear B and the entire train is set in' motion in sequence,

gear C moving gear 1) which is in mesh with gear E; and gear B, which is secured to the latter, actuates gear G, which, in turn, rotates gear H'in mesh with the large gear I and consequently the rack J is rotated. This train of gears is of a reduction of 1 to 369, so that one complete turn of shaft 19 will move the top and bottom plates of the tripod head and mechanism carried thereby, one degree, as will be indicatedby the score on a plate 32 mounted upon the top plate 11, Secured to and depending between lugs 33 on the longitudinal edge of plate 16, is pivoted a screw-threaded bolt 34 that passes through an opening 35 in the top plate 11 and enters the interior of the head. The threaded portion of this bolt 34 passes through the central bore of-a rocking member 36, the ends whereof are pivotally mounted in suitable trunnions 37, so as to permit the tilting of said rocking member 36 during the operation of adjusting the bolt 34 to divers positions. This rocking member 36 comprises an upper and a lower plate, 38 and 39, respectively, between which a suitable rotatable gear 40 is secured. This gear .40 has its hub elongated in opposite directions and surrounds the screw-threaded portion hub is bored and interiorly threaded to engage the thread of the bolt 34 and is also provided with longitudinal slots 50, and a split collar 51surrounds the upper end of said hub which may be drawn up or tight-' ened by the screw 52 so as to secure a desired degree of friction between the hub and the bolt 34, to keep the bolt in adjusted position The lower portion of the hub is bored out so as to clear the threads on bolt 34. Suitable anti-friction devices 42 and 43 are disposed upon opposite sides of the gear 40 so as to facilitate thev rotation of the latter with respect to the rocking member 36. The pinion 30 on shaft 19 is adapted to engage gear 40 when the shaft is raised,

so as to throw the same inmesh, and the rotation of said shaft causes gear 40 to of bolt 34-. The upper portion of the rotate and'raise or lower the bolt by its engagement with the respective'members 41. This will rotate or tilt the -plate 16 upon its sired angle.

-- In order to prevent dust and foreign mat ter entering the casing through the bolt opening 35, I prefer to surround the upper extended end of the bolt with a conical exv I the top plate'11,'by means of a suitable spring ring 48. Whenthe bolt is elevated or lowered, the spring 44 will cause the clon gation of the material, and when the bolt is reversed o lowered, the material will be shortened so that a dust-proof cap or bushingisformed. m 1

It will be obvious that the extreme gear reduction heretofore described develops a considerable degree of power. So as to secure the interior portion of the head with respect to the cylindrical wall 10, to permit of its relative movement through the gear train and also torelease such connection so that'the interior portion of the head may be easily manually moved for securing coarse or rapid adjustment, I have 'rovided the brake shoe 54 mounted upon t ebrake-a-rm 5'5, one end whereof is. pivotally secured to the top plate 11 by bolt 56. Secured .to the brake arm 55 and extended beyond its opposite end is a spring plate 57 and a set screw 58 extends through the brake-arm so that its end rests against spring 57. The end of the brake-arm is split through the bore for.set screw 58 and ascrew 59 is provided to draw up the split and retain set screw 58 in adjusted position. A shaft 60 is journaledin top plate 11 adjacent spring 57, and upon the lower inne end of shaft 60 is provided an arm 61 which carries a friction roller 62 on end which engageswith said spring 57. An arm 63 is provided upon the upper outer end of shaft 60 by means of which the arm 61 may be swung past center so that the roller 62 is carried out of engagement with spring plate 57, thereby releasing the brake shoe from engagement with the cylindrical wall 10 and permitting the easy manual movement of the interior mechanism of the head.

What I claim is:

1. A tripod head comprising a leg carrying member, a plate carried thereby and r0- tatable about the axis thereof, a table carried by said plate and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said plate, independent actuating means for pivotal members and consequently-tilt the instrument mounted thereon to the derotating said plate and said table, and an operating member capable of respective coaction with said actuating means and adapt ed to be maintained normally, independent thereof. I Y I v 2. A tripod head comprising a leg carrying element, a member carried thereby and rotatable about the axis thereof, a drive shaft provided with a pinion, spindles carried by said member adjacent said shaft, a

with relation to said leg carrying element.

3. A tripod head comprising a leg carrying element, a member carried thereby and rotatable about the axis thereof, a table mountedon said member and rotatable about an axis at an angle to theaxisof rotation of said, member, a drive shaft, 'a gear train deriving its motion from. said shaft, means driven by said gear train whereby said mem- 5 ber is moved bodily with relation to said. leg cal rying element, and devices driven by said shaft independently -of said gear train adapted to rotate, said table.

- 4. A tripod headcomprising afleg "carrying element, a rotatable -member carried thereby, a table supported on said member and rotatable about an axis at an angle to ,the'axis of rotation ofsaid member, a rocking frame carried by the member, a rotatable gear on said frame and capable of anal rotation independently of said frame, and a suitable'device operatively connectlng said table and said'gear.

5. A tripod head comprising a leg carrying element, a rotatable member carried thereby,.a table supported on said member and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said member, a longitudinally pivoted transversely tiltable rocking-frame carried by said member, an

internally threaded gear journaled in said frame and capable of rotation independently of its movement with said frame, and a. threaded bolt engaged by said gear and one end'whereof is pivotally connected to said table.

6. A tripod head comprising a leg carrying element, a rotatable member earned thereby, a table supported on said member and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said member, a longitudinally pivoted transversely tiltable rocking-frame carried by said member, an internally threaded gear journaled in said frame and capable of rotation independently of its movement with said frame, a threaded bolt engaged by said gear and one end whereof is pivotally connected. to said table, and a suitably driven pinion engaging said gear.

7. A tripod head comprising a leg carrying element, a member carried thereby and.

operativel bodily with relation to said leg carrying element, means for rotating said table in-' dependently of said member, and driving mechanism adapted to successively actuate said table rotating means and said member actuating mechanism.

8. A tripod head comprising a leg carrying element, a member carried thereby and rotatable about the axis thereof, a table supported on said member and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the-axis of rotation of said member, spindles journaled in said member, a plurality of gears mounted on each spindle in train with each other, means operatively connecting said gear train and said member whereby the same is moved bodily with relationto said leg carrying element, a rocking frame carried by said member,

mon driv ng means adapted to successively actuate said gear train and said last mentioned gear, 1

. 9, A tripod head comprising a leg carrying element, a member carried thereby and rotatable. about the axis thereof, a table supported on said member and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said member, spindles journaled in said member, a plurality of gears mounted on each spindle in train with a gear rotatableon said frame and op-' eratively connected to said table, and com each other, means naraaao operatively connecting said gear train and said member whereby the same is moved bodily with relation to said leg carrying element, a rocking frame carried. by said member, a gear rotatable on said frame and op eratively connected to said table the hub whereof is internally threaded, a bolt pivoted pendently' upon said table and engaging the threads of said gear hub, and a drive-shaft provided with a sively mesh with-said gear train and said last mentioned gear. Y

10, A panoramic tilting device, comprising a frame, a supporting platform mounted therein, a base for said frame and platform, means to rotate said frame relatively to said base, means to rotate said platform relatively to said frame, and a'rotatable shaft common to said two rotation means to engage one or the other thereof and adapted to efi'ect the corresponding rotation.

11.. A panoramic tilting device, comprising a frame, a supporting platform mounted therein, a base means to rotate said frame relatively to said base about a vertical axis, means to rotate said platform relatively to said frame about a horizontal axis, and a rotatable shaft common to said two rotation means and adapted to engage one or the other thereof to efiect the corresponding rotation, I

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of llllinois,th1s 16th day of November, 1916,

ALBERT S. HtlWlELlt Witnesses:

E, K, Lunar, din, hi, Smart 7 pinion ada ted to succes-.

tilt

for said frame and platform, 1 

